Enclosed circuit interrupter



M. HUBER ET AL Filed June 2, 1939 ENCLOSED CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER[Hsz/Zazl'm Sept. 16, 1941.

INVENTORS Max Haber and ,l1/$6727 @af/)m5 ATTORNE wlTNEssEs:

Patented Sept. 16, 1941 2,255,927 ENCLOSED CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER MaxHuber,

Berlin-Siemensstadt, and Albert Dahms, Berlin, Germany, assignors toWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application June 2, 1939, serial No. 277,068

17 Claims.

The invention relates to circuit interrupting devices in general, andmore particularly to circuit breakers, switches or motor starters whichare mounted in enclosing housings for industrial application, and whichare manually operable from outside of the enclosing housing by anoperating handle on the housing.

Considerable difficulties have been encountered with some of the knowntypes of enclosed circuit interrupters which are equipped with anoperating handle on the openable cover of the enclosing housing. Onediiculty has been that the operating handle on the cover cannot effectan operative engagement or connection with the circuit interrupterhandle unless these handles are in corresponding positions when thecover is closed. Another difficulty is that the insulating handle of thecircuit interrupter is apt to be broken or damaged when the cover isslammed shut. Also the structure for effecting connection between theinterrupter handle and the operating handle on the cover are morecomplicated and expensive than is desired, thus increasing the totalcost of the complete device.

An object of the present invention is the pro- I vision of an enclosedcircuit interrupter operable by an operating handle on the openablecover and which obviates the disadvantages mentioned above of the priorart structures.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an enclosed circuitinterrupter of the class described in which operative engagement orconnection between the operating handle on the` cover and thecircuitinterrupter handle can be easily effected after the cover isclosed even though the handles are not in kcorresponding positions whenthe cover is closed.

Another object of the invention is the provisionl of an enclosed circuitinterrupter in which the operative connection between the operatinghandle on the cover and the interrupter handle can be established whenthecover is closed and the handles are in non-corresponding positions,merely by moving the operating handle to a position corresponding tothat of the interrupter handle.'

Another object of the invention is the provision of an enclosed circuitinterrupter in which the means for effecting an operative connectionbetween the operating handle on the cover and the insulating circuitinterrupter handle is of such construction as to prevent breakage of theinterrupter handle when the cover is slammed shut Germany June 2, 1938 uclosed circuit interrupter constructed in accord- Another object of theinvention is the provision ance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the enclosed interrupter, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing thecircuit interrupter handle and the operating handle in non-correspondingposition to illustrate the manner in which they may be operativelyconnected by moving the operating handle..

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 5 designates aprotecting housing for enclosing a circuit interrupter 1. 'I'he housing5 is preferably constructed of sheet metal and is provided with anopenable cover 9 of the same material, which is hinged to one side lofthe housing by a pair of hinges ll. The housing 5 and its cover 9 serveto protect the circuit interrupter 'l and any other electrical deviceswhich may be mounted in the housingffrom dust, dirt and otherdeleterious materials usually encountered in industrial plants. Thecover may be swung to open position to permit access to be had to theelectrical devices within the housing; and this cover is adapted to belocked in closed position by a suitable latching or locking device I3.

The circuit interrupter 1 may be a circuit breaker, switch or manualmotor starter of any known construction having a movable actuatinghandle or lever. The circuit interrupter 1 shown is contained within itsown casing l5, and is providedy with an oscillatable actuating handlel1, preferably of insulating material, that is movable about a pivot toopposite off and on positions to open or to close the circuit controlledthereby.

The actuating mechanism (not shown) of the interrupter is preferably ofthe type which is automatically operable upon overloads of predeterminedmagnitude and duration to effect opening of the contacts of theinterrupter, and the mechanism is resettable after an automatic openingoperation. There are a number of known circuit is inclosedposition.

of a leaf spring 4I.

breakers of this general type, one, for example, being fully describedin Patent 2,048,114 -to H. S. Gano and H. P. Dorfman, July ,21, 1936,assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

An operating handle I9 is-rotatably mountedV on the cover 9 to providefor operating the inter,

.ment of the operating handle I9 to al position will be hereinafterdescribed. 'The cover 9 is provided with suitable indicia such as"on`and oi" which cooperate with an index mark 2i on the operatinghandle I9 to indicate the operating positions of the handle.

The operating handle I9 is rotatably mounted on the cover 9 by means ofa shaft 23 secured to the handle which extends through an opening in thecover 9 and through a bushing or bearing 25 secured to the undersideofthe cover 9. `the inner end of the shaft 23 projecting beyond thebearing 25. w y' n The opening through which the shaft 23 extends ispreferably packed in any suitable manner to prevent the entrance of dustor dirt into the housing at this point. The edges of the side and endwalls of the cover 9 are slightly oset and are adapted to overlap andfit relatively close against the edges of,` the vside and Vend walls ofthe housing 5 to provide asubstantially-dust and dirt-proof jointtherebetween when the cover 9 The separable connecting means which serveto provide an operative connection between the operating handle I9 andthe interrupter handle I1 when the cover is closed whereby rotation ofthe operating handle to on" or oi positions affects movement of theinterrupter handle to corresponding operating positions to operate theinterrupter, comprises a crank arm 21 which isrigidly secured to theinner end. of the shaft 23. and a connecting member 29 carried by thecircuit interrupter handle I1. The crank is keyed to the shaft 23 forrotation therewith and is held in mounted position on the shaft by thenuts 29.

The connecting member 29 has an integral yoke 3I at its upper end, thelegs of which straddle the sides of the interrupter Vhandle I1. 'l

Y circuit interrupter handle I1 and is engaged in aligned openings inthe legs of the yoke 3| to pivotally connect the member 29 to theinterrupter either direction. I

corresponding .to that of the interrupter handle I1. Thus the operativeconnection between the handles can be established irrespective of thedifference in their positions when the cover is closed. The structure oithe connecting means also prevents breakage of the insulatinginterrupter handle I1 when the cover 9 is slammed shut. This resultsfrom the fact that impacts resulting from slamming of the cover when thecrank pin 39 is not in alignment with the slot 31 are not transmitteddirectly to the interrupter handle I1 but merely result in theconnecting member 29 being depressed against the resiliency of thespring 4I.

Referring to Fig.,2,1 the operation of thejdevice isbriefly as follows.With the crank pin- 39 operatively engaged in the slot 31,k letitbeassumed that it is desired to operate the circuit interrupter to the oiposition. The operating handle I9 is rotated in a clockwisedirectionfrom the on position shown inFig. 2 to a position in which the'index 2| aligns with the word oifv4 on the cover 9. ThisV movement ofthe operating handle I9 causes similar clockwise movement of the crank21and crank pin 39. The crank pin 39 being engaged in the vslot 31 ofthe connecting member '29, clockwise movement of the crank pin causesthe connecting vmember 29 to'be moved downwardly in a straight positionshown in Fig. 2g This movement of the operating handle causes the crankpin 39 to move the connecting member 29 upwardly in a straight line tocause movement of the circuit interrupter handle upwardly from its offto its on position. The transverse slot 31 permits straight linemovement of the connecting element 29 when the operating handle isrotated in4 When the cover. is swung to open position, the

jcrank pin 39 is 4,withdrawn from the' slot 31 and handle for movementtherewith. 'Iheconnect-l i ing member 29 is provided with adownwardlyextending portion which is cylindrically arched, as indicated at 35, andwhich is provided with a transversely extending slot 31 midway betweenthe ends of the cylindrically arched portion 35.

The transverse slot 31 is adapted to receive an inwardly extending crankpin 39 formed integral with the end of the crank 21 to effect anoperative connection between the operating handle VI9 and" theinterrupter handle I1 whenthe'cover is in moves vwith l'the cover toopen position. When the cover is closed, the crank pin 39 will reen gagein the slot 31 if'the operating .handle I9 is in va positioncorresponding to thatof them-Y t'errupter handle I1 at the time thecover. is

closed. However, if the operating handle Iil'happens to be in adifferent position from that-of the interrupter handle I1, even inIapcomplete opposite position therefroml the operative connection betweenthe handles may be readily member 29 outwardly causing the slot 31 toenf gage the crank pin 39 and thus effect operative connection betweenthe handles.

While the invention has been disclosed in accordance with the provisionsof the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes inthe structural details and modifications thereof may be made withoutdeparting from some of the essential features of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

l. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, ,a circuit interrupter unit having an oscillatable actuatinghandle mounted in said housing, an operating handle rotatably mounted onsaid cover for moving said actuating handle Y to actuate theinterrupter, means providing a separable connection between saidhandles, said means being operable to establish an operative connectionbetween said handles after the cover is closed'irrespective of anydifference of position of said handles, by manual movement of saidoperating handle to a position corresponding to that ofsaid interrupterhandle.

2. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter unit having a movable actuating handlemounted in said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover formoving said actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providinga separable connection between said handles which is operable after thecover is closed to establish an operative connection between the handlesby manually moving said operating handle to a position corresponding tothat of said actuating handle.

3. In an enclosed circuit vinterrupter, a ,housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having an actuating handle movable to "onand off positions mounted in said housing, an operating handle on saidcover movable to corresponding on"and oir positions to operate the.interrupter, means providing a separable connection between said handleswhich when the cover is closed and the handles are in non-correspondingpositions is operable to eiect -an operative connection between` saidhandles upon manual movement of said operating handle to a positioncorresponding to that of said lnterrupter handle.

4. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providing aseparable connection between said .handles ccmprlsing an element movablewith one of said handles and engageable with the other 1hantuatinghandle after the dle, said cover being closable when said han dles areVin .non-corresponding position, and said element being yieldable topermit operative engagement thereof by manual movement of said operatinghandle to a position corresponding to that of said actuating handlerafter vthe cover is closed.

5. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a' housing having an openablecover, a circuit lnterrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providing aseparable connection. between said handles, said means comprisinginterengageable elements carried respectively by said operating handleand said actuating handle, one of said elements having means for causingit to yield and snap into operative engagement with the other element toeiIect an operative connection between said handles when the operatinghandle is moved to a position corresponding to that of said actuatinghandle after the 'cover is closed.

6. In an enclosed 'circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providing aseparable connection between said handles comprising interengageableelements carried respectively by said operating handle and saidactuating handle, and means for causing said elements to operativelyengage to effect an operative connection between said handles when theoperating handle is manually moved to a position corresponding to thatof said actuating handle after the cover is closed irrespective of thediilerence in position of said handles when the cover is closed.

7. In Aan enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means' providing aseparable connection between said handles comprising an element movablewith said operating handle interengageable with an element movable withsaid actuating handle, said element movable with said actuating handlebeing yieldable away from said cover to allow said elements tooperatively engage to eiect an operative connection between said handleswhen said operating handle is manually moved to a position correspondingto that of said actuating handle after said cover is closed.

8. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a vmovable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providing aseparable connection between said handles, said means comprising anelement movable with said operating handle and an element operable bysaid actuating handle, one of said elements havinga recess for receivingthe other element to effect operative connection of said handles, saidelements being relatively yieldable away from each other to permitrelative movement of said elements and engagement of said other elementin said recess when the operating handle is moved to a positioncorresponding to that of said accover is closed.

9. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providing aseparable connection between said handles, said means comprising aprojection carried by said operating handle and an element connected tosaid interrupter handle for movement with said interrupter handle, saidelement having a recess for receiving the projection of said operatinghandle to eil'ect operative engagement of said handles and havinginclined surfaces on opposite sides of said recess, said element beingresiliently yieldable away from said cover to permit the projection onsaid operating handle to move along either of said inclined surfaces andinto said recess when said operating handle is rupter having a movableactuating handle mounted in said housing, a movable operating handle onsaid cover for moving said actuating handle to operate the interrupter,means providing a separable connection between said handles, said meanscomprising a projection carried by said operating handle and an elementsecured to said actuating handle for movement with said actuatinghandle, said element having a recess for receiving the projection onsaid operating handle to operatively connect said handles and havinginclined surfaces on opposite sides of the recess, said element beingyieldable away from the cover and biased against the projection topermit said projection to move along either of the inclined surfaces andinto said recess when said operating handle is moved to a positioncorresponding to that of said actuating handle after the cover isclosed.

11. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing, a circuit interrupterhaving an oscillatable actuating handle mounted in said housing, arotatable operating handle on said `housing for moving said actuatinghandle to operate the interrupter, means providing a separableconnection between said handles comprising an element secured to saidinterrupter handle for movement therewith said element having a slottherein, and a crank pin carried by said operating handle engageable insaid slot to effect an operative connection between said handles, saidelement having inclined surfaces on opposite sides of said slot and saidelement being yieldable away from and biased against said pin.

12. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having an oscillatable actuating handlemounted in said housing, a rotatable operating handle on said cover formoving said actuating handle to operate the interrupter, means providinga separable connection between said handles comprising an elementconnected to said actuating handle by a pivot pin extending transverselythrough said actuating handle, said element having a portion extendingin the direction of movement of said actuating handle, said portionhaving a transverse slot therein and having inclined surfaces onopposite sides of the slot, a crank pin carried by said operating handleengageable in said slilfor effecting an operative connection betweensaid handles, and a spring biasing said element against the crank pin.

13. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having an oscillatable actuating handlemounted in said housing, a rotatable operating handle on said cover formoving said actuating handle to operate the interrupter, an elementconnected to said actuating handle by a pivot pin extending transverselythrough said handle, said element having a portion provided with atransverse slot and with cylindrically arched portions on opposite sidesof the slot, a-crank pin secured to said operating handle engageable insaid slot to operatively connect said handles, and a spring biasing saidelement against said crank pin.

14. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable handle mounted in saidhousing, a movable operating handle on said cover for moving saidinterrupter handle to operate the interrupter, means providing aseparable connection between said handles comprising an elementconnected to one of said handles having means for operativelyr engagingthe other handle to effect operative connection of said handles, saidengaging means being yieldably depressible to permit operativeengagement to be established after the cover is closed even though saidhandles are in non-corresponding positions, by manual movement of saidoperating handle to a position corresponding to that of said interrupterhandle.

15. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having an openablecover, a circuit interrupter having a movable actuating handle mountedin said housing, a movable operating handle on said cover for movingsaid interrupter handle to operatethe interrupter, means providy ing aseparable connection between said handles, said means comprising anelement connected to one of said handles having opposed inclinedportions for operatively engaging the other handle, said opposedportions being yieldably depressible by said other handle to permitoperative engagement to be established when said operating han-y dle ismanually moved to a position corresponding to that of said interrupterhandle after the cover is closed.

16. In an enclosed circuit interrupter, a housing having a hinged cover,a circuit interrupter having an oscillatable handle mounted in saidhousing, a movable operating handle rotatably mounted on said cover formoving the interrupter handle to operate the interrupter, meansproviding a separable connection between said handles comprising anelement connected to one of saidv handles having opposed inclinedportions for operatively engaging the other handle, said opposedportions being yieldably depressible by said other handle to permitoperative engagement to be established after the cover is closed,irrespective of the difference of position of said" handles, by movementof the operating handle to a position corresponding to that of saidinterrupter handle,

17. In combination, a housing having an openable cover, a circuitinterrupter havinga movable actuating handle mounted in said housing, amovable operating handle on said cover for moving said interrupterhandle to operate the interrupter, means providing a separableconnection between said handles comprising an element connected to oneof said handles having opposed portions for engaging the other handle,said portions being yieldably depressible by said other handle to permitoperative engagement thereof after the cover is closed, by movement ofthe operating handle to a position corresponding to that of saidinterrupter handle.

MAX HBER. ALBERT DAHMS.

